AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE EFFECTIVE UTILISATION AND MANAGEMENT OF SERIAL BY RESEARCHERS IN RESEARCH INSTITUTES IN SOUTHWESTERN NIGERIA

Abstract

The study was on an investigation into the effective utilization and management of serial by researchers in research institutes in southwest Nigeria. A descriptive survey method was used. A purposive   sampling technique   using   an interval   of  1:2  was   employed  to select   50%   of the researchers from each of the research institute to give a total of 130 respondents from the research institutes. Data were collected through the use of a structured questionnaire . A total number of eighty questionnaire were retrieved which is 61.5% of the total sampled. The result showed that serial   such   as   Journals   are   frequently   used   by   researchers   for   research   work   (45.0%,). Proceedings are more accessible in the Library 46(57.7%), annual reports is next 42 (52.5%), Magazines 40(50%), Newspapers 35(43.8%), journals 34(42.5%) electronic resources and micro form carried the least 19(23.8%). Inadequate funding is the major problem to serial management(73.8%) followed by disorganization of serial on the racks/shelves by users (53.8%). Provision of funds, facilities and regular supply of electricity were recommended as the best way to improve on serial management and use(13.8%).

Keywords: Serial utilisation,  Serial management, Research institutes, Southwest, Nigeria.